NFL 2009–Week 9 Recap
From Arizona, I look for a sportsbar. The last time I was in Arizona was to watch one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time. Thrill and danger in the desert almost kept me from making it home.
http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2008/02/thrill-and-danger-in-the-desert/
This weekend should be smoother. Actually know it won’t. Between the drive from Los Angeles to Arizona followed by 5 book signings and speeches in 3 days, this NFL Recap will be way behind schedule.
For those in Arizona, here is my itinerary.
Sunday, November 8—I will be speaking to the Arizona chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition at 2pm in Scottsdale. Please contact Amy Laff for details.
http://www.rjchq.org/Chapters/chapterdetail.aspx?id=13371fe4-92c4-4c6d-9278-1f2bf3747508
Monday, November 9—I will be speaking to the Huachuca Chapter of the Republican Women’s Federated in Cochise County, Arizona, at Noon. Windermire Hotel, 2047 S Hwy 92, Sierra Vista, 85650. Please contact Vera Hylsky (520) 803-1718 for details.
Monday, November 9—I will be speaking to the Arizona Group Coalition for a Conservative Majority at 6:30pm at the Italian American Club, 7509 North 12th st, Phoenix. Please contact Ted Naeckel for details.
Tuesday, November 10—I will be speaking to the Pima County Republican Club in Arizona at 11:30am. El Parador, 2744 East Broadway. Contact Mike Ebert for details.
Tuesday, November 10—I will be speaking to the Superstition Mountain Republican Club in Arizona at 5:30pm. Feed Bag Restaurant 300 S. Phelps Apache Junction, AZ. Please contact Merle Palmer 480-671-8310.
At least my rental car has NFL Sirius Satellite Radio.
Also, my coed touch football team Kiss Da Baby won 42-12. Our regular quarterback Scott was in Seattle, so his brother Ryan took the help at quarterback. It was like replacing Peyton Manning with Eli, but hey, they both have rings. I did not compare him to Jim Sorgi. I had one reception, and my sneakers are not going to last the season. I will see if the miracle of ductape can save them, or if a Viking funeral is in order.
With that, here is the NFL 2009 Week 9 Recap.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars–The Chiefs began their opening drive on their own 43, and after failing to convert on 3rd and 1 from the Jacksonville 28, settled for a field goal and a 3-0 lead. Yet when Jennings ran for a 28 yard touchdown, the Jaguars were up 7-3. In the second quarter the Jaguars missed a long field goal, and later in the period fumbled the ball away at their own 20. The Chiefs reached the 3 yard line before settling for a field goal and a 7-6 game. Yet David Garrard then went deep to Sims-Walker for a 61 yard touchdown pass to put the Jaguars up 14-6 at halftime as the Chiefs also missed a long field goal at the gun.
In the third quarter Garrard led a 10 play, 5 1/2 minute drive that resulted in a field goal and a 17-6 Jacksonville lead. With 7 minutes left in the game, a long punt return had the Jaguars starting at the Chiefs 22. A 10 yard run by Maurice Jones Drew had the Jaguars up 24-6 with only 4 1/2 minutes left. Yet the Chiefs fought valiantly. Matt Cassel hit Chris Chambers for a 54 yard touchdown pass to pull the Chiefs within 24-13 with 2 1/2 minutes left. The Chiefs recovered the onsides kick, and Cassel hit Chambers from 5 yards out. With the 2 point conversion, the Chiefs were within a field goal with one minute remaining. Yet the Jaguars recovered the next onsides kick to preserve the win. 24-21 Jaguars
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals–While the Bengals are much improved, the Ravens are one year removed from the AFC Title Game. Yet while the Ravens are known for attitude, today it was the Bengals who played smashmouth. On their opening drive, Carson Palmer led the Bengals 12 plays in over 6 minutes to cover 73 yards. A 6 yard touchdown pass to Caldwell had the Bengals up 7-0. After a Baltimore punt, Palmer moved the Bengals 80 yards in 10 plays, with Cedric Benson running it in from one yard out to put the Bengals up 14-0. In the second quarter Palmer led a 12 play, 7 minute drive that led to a field goal as the Bengals led 17-0 at halftime. The second half was all defense. The Ravens eventually cracked the scoreboard, but the Bengals under Marvin Lewis improved to 6-2, 4-0 in the division. 17-7 Bengals
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts–The Texans are much improved at 5-3 under Gary Kubiak, but the Jim Caldwell era in Indy has the Colts at 7-0. The Colts turned it over on downs on their first possession, but got the ball back and marched 12 plays to paydirt as Peyton Manning hit Joseph Addai for a 7 yard touchdown to put the Colts up 7-0. Matt Schaub needed one play to throw an interception, and a short field goal had the Colts up 10-0. The Colts got the ball back again, and Manning led a 10 play drive in the second quarter that led to another Matt Stover field goal. Peyton Manning threw the ball a ridiculous 40 times in the first half, and 50 times in the game. Yet despite dominating statistically, the Colts offense struggled for the second week in a row at home to put the ball in the end zone, as they only led 13-0.
Schaub moved the Texans from their own 11 deep into Indy territory, but a fumble at the goal line resulted in a touchback at the 2 minute warning. Yet the Colts could not run out the clock, since they did not run the ball much of the game. A 56 yard field goal at the gun had the Texans within 13-3 at halftime.
The Texans took the second half kickoff, and Schaub led the Texans 86 yards in 12 plays over 6 1/2 minutes. This time they finished the drive, as Schaub hit Moats from one yard out to get the Texans within 13-10. The Colts failed to pick up a first down, and Schaub then led the Texans 84 yards in 12 plays over another 6 1/2 minutes. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Steve Slaton ran it in from one yard out as the Texans had a 17-13 lead.
On the next Colts possession Manning went deep and was intercepted. Yet the Texans failed to capitalize. The Colts got the ball back with 11 minutes left, and Manning made the Texans pay. A 17 yard completion to Dallas Clark followed by a 16 yard completion to Collie set up Joseph Addai on the ground from 2 yards out. The Colts led by a field goal with 7 minutes left.
Schaub moved the Texans into Indy territory, but with 2:13 left, an interception appeared to seal the game. It didn’t. The Colts used up only 27 seconds, and with 1:46 left the Texans had one last shot from their own 15. Schaub worked the 2 minute drill to perfection, and with one second left, the Texans had the tying field goal attempt from 42 yards out. It was no good, wide left, and for the second week in a row, the Colts had survived a scare at home. The Texans are much improved, and the Colts have looked rickety. Yet they are 8-0, and that is what matters. 20-17 Colts
Washington Redskins @ Atlanta Falcons–The Falcons have lost two straight, while the Redskins are on the verge of being impeached. Matt Ryan led a 10 play, 6 minute drive that culminated in a 2 yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez to put the Falcons up 7-0. Jason Campbell then threw a 62 yard touchdown pass to Hill. Unfortunately for Campbell, Hill plays defense for Atlanta. The Falcons led 14-0 and cruised to an easy win against a bad team. The Redskins did manage a second quarter field goal, but a 30 yard touchdown run by Michael Turner had the Falcons up 21-3. The Falcons got the ball back with 2:17 left in the half, and somehow ran 14 plays in that time. A Jason Elam field goal at the gun had the Falcons coasting 24-3.For some reason, the second half was played.
The Redskins showed some life in the second half as Campbell led an 8 minute drive that covered 80 yards and 13 plays. On 4th and goal from the 1, Betts ran it in to make it a 24-10 game. The Redskins got the ball back, and Campbell led another 13 play drive, this one covering 81 yards over 7 minutes. When Campbell hit Yoder from 3 yards out, the Redskins were within 7 points with an entire 13 minutes left in the game. Yet the Redskins had no answer for Michael Turner, and a 58 yard touchdown run iced the game for the Falcons. Turner finished with 166 yards on 18 carries, as Atlanta improved to 5-3. As for Jim Zorn, Sherm Lewis, Daniel Snyder, and their ilk, the apologies shall continue. 31-17 Falcons
Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers–For a long time ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman referred to this game as the Bay of Pigs. Then both teams improved, and it became Baywatch. It is now back to being the Bay of Pigs again. The Buccaneers, determined to honor their legacy of starting 0-26, decided that the best way to revive their current 0-7 team was to break out the orange creamsicle pants. Jon Gruden is still in the Monday Night Football booth. Brett Favre spent the weekend relaxing as Minnesota was 7-1.
2 1/2 minutes into the game, Aaron Rodgers hit Jones on a 74 yard touchdown pass, proving that Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are geniuses. Later in the quarter Rodgers was intercepted, as the Buccaneers took over at the Green Bay 8. Josh Freeman, making his very first NFL start, hit Ward from 6 yards out to tie the game 7-7. Yet Rodgers brought the Packers right back, and 11 plays and 6 minutes later, Ryan Grant ran it in form 2 yards out to cap the 69 yard drive and put the Packers up 14-7.
In the second quarter the Buccaneers missed a field goal, but despite having an anemic offense all year, found themselves in a 14-14 tie game when Hayes blocked a punt and Ronde Barber returned it 31 yards for a score. Rodgers brought the Pckers back again, and a 3 yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver had Green Bay up 21-14. The pace of the game then slowed, and with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half, the Buccaneers were at their own 6 yard line. All Josh Freeman did in his first start was lead Tampa Bay all the way to the Packers 20, where a field goal had Tampa Bay within 21-17 at intermission.
A scoreless third quarter featured another Aaron Rodgers interception, but when Rodgers ran it in from 1 2yards out on the next Green Bay drive, the Packers led 28-17 with 13 minutes left in the game. Yet SMith returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the Green Bay 17. Freeman then hit Josh WInslow for the 7 yard score. The 2 point conversion failed, but the creamsicle pirates were within 28-23.
The Packers reached midfield on their next drive before punting, as the Buccaneers took over at their own 28 with 7 minutes left. Freeman immediately hit Winslow for 22 yards to midfield. A 29 yard pass to Clayton had the Bucs at the 13. With 4:20 left, the Bucs faced 4th and 4 at the Green Bay 7. A field goal would have made it a 2 point game with plenty of time left, but at 0-7, Raheem Morris had nothing to lose by going for it. Freeman hit Stroughter for the touchdown, and the 2 point conversion had the Buccaneers up 31-28.
With 52 seconds left in the game the Packers had one last shot. Rodgers needed a miracle touchdown, and a 35 yard score sealed the game. Unfortunately for Rodgers, it was his third interception, this one to Jackson. The Buccaneers finally had a win. Maybe the orange pants made the difference, or maybe the Packers now have a dreadful organization. Brett Favre could not be reached for comment, as he enjoyed his bye week, most likely watching an upset in the Bay of Pigs. 38-28 Buccaneers
Arizona Cardinals @ Chicago Bears–the Bears defense is like Fallujah, bombed out and depleted. this is n0t a condition to be in when facing the Greatest Show in the Desert, although the show seems to be better on the road. By the time the game was over, Kurt Warner had thrown for 5 touchdown passes, and Janet Napolitano had four sacks on defense. Just kidding. Janet Napolitano can’t defend anything. Warner had four touchdown passes in the first half alone.
The Cardinals led 31-7 at halftime and 34-7 in the third quarter before giving warner some rest and allowing Matt Leinart to get some playing time. Leinart is less like Kurt Warner and more like Pop Warner. Leinart threw an interception, and a blowout was now 34-21. Ken Whisenhunt had had enough, and brought Warner (old man Kurt, not Pop) back in the game. He threw his fifth touchdown pass to seal the game. The Bears remain a mess because their once vaunted defense is injury riddled. 41-21 Cardinals
Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots–After a Tom Brady interception, Chad Henne led the Dolphins 10 plays to a 52 yard field goal and a 3-0 Dolphins lead. Brady came right back and hit Randy Moss for a 36 yard pass down to the Miami one, where Lawrence Maroney took it in to put the Patriots up 7-3. In the second quarter the Patriots added a field goal and the dolphins took over at their own 20 and ripped off some big plays. Pat White came in at quarterback and picked up 33 yards, and Ricky Williams added 12 more. Williams ran for the 15 yard touchdown to tie the game 10-10.
Brady led New England to a field goal, and the Patriots got the ball back at their own 14 with 1:46 left in the half. On 3rd and one from their own 43 Brady found Wes Welker for 14 yards. A 17 yard defensive pass interference penalty was just enough for the Patriots to add another field goal at the gun to lead 16-10 at intermission.
The Dolphins took the second half kickoff at their own 34, and Henne led a staggering 16 play, 10 minute drive. Ronnie Brown took the one yard wildcat snap and hit Haynos for the touchdown as the Dolphins now led 17-16. Yet the Dolphins barely has time to celebrate as Brady went deep to Randy moss for a 71 yard touchdown pass. A successful 2 point conversion had the Patriots up 24-17.
The fourth quarter was all defense as New England clamped down. With 2:54 left, facing 4th and 15 at their own 27, Tony Sparano decided to go for it rather than punt and rely on a defense that had played reasonably well. Henne threw deep incomplete, and the gift field position allowed for a final field goal to put the game out of reach. The Patriots are 6-2, and even at the midpoint of the season, already seem to have the division locked up. 27-17 Patriots
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints–Last week the Saints fell behind 24-3 before exploding for 36 points in the second half to win. For the second week in a row, an inferior but improving team had the Saints starting in a hole. Jon Fox stuck it out with Jake Delhomme, and the Panthers ran right out of the gate. A 66 yard touchdown run by Deangelo Williams had the Panthers up 7-0. Later in the quarter Drew Brees was sacked and fumbled at his own 11. Williams ran it in from 7 yards out as the Panthers had a stunning 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Yet Sean Payton knows that his 7-0 team is resilient.
In the second quarter, Brees led a 15 play, 8 minute drive that reached the 5 yard line before bogging down. The Saints kicked a field goal to pull to within 14-3. Carolina then fumbled deep in their own territory, but Brees gave it right back with an interception that was returned 41 yards to the 45. 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes later, Delhomme had led the Panthers to another field goal and a 17-3 panthers lead. The Saints got the ball back with 1:43 left in the half, and a field goal had them down 17-6 at intermission.
The second half showed why the Saints are unbeaten. A short pass from Brees to Devry Henderson went for 63 yards, setting up Pierre Thomas from 10 yards out to make it 17-13. Delhommme then led a ridiculous 19 play drive that ate up almost 10 minutes. The Panthers had 1st and goal at the one, with a chance to do some damage. They did, but the damage was to themselves. Delhomme lost 6 yards on 1st down, and the Panthers ended up kicking a field goal to lead 20-13. The Saints capitalized, and on 3rd and 5 from their own 46 on the final play of the third quarter, Brees went deep to Meacham for a 54 yard touchdown pass. Despite trailing the entire game, the final quarter began tied 20-20.
Carolina punted, and the Saints took over at their own 2 with 11 minutes left in the game. Brees hit Thomas for 17 yards and Meacham for 21 more as the Saints reached the Carolina 12 before a penalty ended the drive. A John Carney field goal from 40 yards out culminated the 13 play, 7 minute drive and had the Saints leading 23-20 with 4 1/2 minutes left.
With 2:51 left, Delhomme fumbled the ball away, but the Saints could not capitalize and punted. The Panthers took over at their own 2 yard line, and Williams, who had played well all game, fumbled the ball and the game away. Hargrive scored the 1 yard defensive touchdown to end the game. The Saints have been sluggish in consecutive weeks, but like the other sluggish unbeaten team, 8-0 is gorgeous always. 30-20 Saints
Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks–The Lions began with Matthew Stafford leading an 8 1/2 minute drive that went for naught when the Lions failed to covert 3rd and 1 at the Seattle 15 and then missed a field goal on 4th and 1. Yet Matt Hasselbeck was intercepted, and Stafford hit Pettigrew for a 7 yard touchdown to put the Lions up 7-0. A Seattle fumble led to a 29 yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Johnson as the Lions had a shocking upset in the making on the road at 14-0. A field goal on their next drive had the Lions up 17-0. Yet these are the Lions.
Seattle got the ball on their own 40, and Hasselbeck settled down and led a 10 play, 5 minute drive in the second quarter. Julius Jones ran it in from 2 yards out to get the Seahawks within 17-7. Detroit began their next possession at the Seattle 47, but a Stafford interception led to a 10 play, 5 1/2 minute drive that ended in a field goal as Seattle crept to within 17-10. On the next Detroit drive they reached the Seattle 38 but Stafford was again intercepted, setting up another Seattle field goal as the Lions only led 17-13 at the half.
In the third quarter Hasselbeck hit Jones for a 49 yard gain. However, after failing to convert on 3rd and 1 from the Detroit 6, the Seahawks on 4th and 1 decided on another field goal as the Lions clung to a 17-16 lead. After a Detroit punt, a defensive pass interference call set up Hasselbeck to TJ Houshmanzadeh as the Seahawks led 22-17. The 2 point conversion failed, but the Detroit collapse was complete.
In the fourth quarter Stafford was intercepted yet again, and again Seattle drove deep. On 4th and 1 from the Detroit 7, Detroit jumped offsides. Yet on 4th and goal from the 2, the Seahawks settled for yet another field goal and a 25-17 lead. After 25 unanswered points, the Lions finally scored again when a field goal with 8 minutes left had them within 25-20. Yet Stafford could not stop throwing interceptions. He was picked with 4 1/2 minutes left, and with 22 seconds left, the fifth and final interception was returned by Wilson 61 yards for a score for the exclamation point. 32-20 Seahawks
Tennessee Titans @ San Francisco 49ers–Vince Young and Alex Smith are trying to revive their careers, taking over for Kerry Collins and Shawn Hill. The 49ers kicked a field goal, and then Vince Young tossed a 49 yard pass that led to the tying field goal and a 3-3 game. The offenses got going in the second quarter as Young ran for a 7 yard touchdown, and Frank Gore ran it in from 3 yards out to again tie the game 10-10. Smith hit Hill from 12 yards out with seconds left in the half to put the 49ers up 17-10.
Midway through the third quarter, a Smith fumble set up Chris Henry from one yard out to again tie the game at 17-17. Yet Smith rebounded, and led a staggering 15 play, 10 minute drive. It bogged down at the 7 yard line, but a 25 yard Joe Nedney field goal had the 49ers up 20-17 with 11 minutes left. Yet Chris Johnson ripped off a 41 yard run, and on 4th and 1 from the 2, Johnson scored to put the Titans up 24-20 with 7 minutes left in a game that was about to get even hotter.
An interception of Smith led to another field goal as the Titans led 27-20 with only 3 minutes remaining. One play later, Smith was intercepted again, and this time Cortland Finnegan ran it 39 yards for the score to have the Titans up 34-20. Smith did hit Hill from 3 yards out with 39 seconds remaining to make it a one score game, but the Titans recovered the onsides kick to snuff out the desperation rally. Tennessee has won 2 straight after their awful 0-6 start. 34-27 Titans
San Diego Chargers @ New York Giants–A pair of overrated teams met as the reeling Giants figured they had the perfect tonic to win by hosting Norvelous Norv Turner and the perpetually underachieving Chargers. On the opening play of the second quarter, Philip Rivers broke a scoreless tie by hitting Vincent Jackson for a 10 yard touchdown. Yet New York Giant football for decades has been about ball control and hard nosed grinding. A ridiculous 16 play, 10 1/2 minute drive ended in a 6 yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Steve Smith to tie the game 7-7. A 2 yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Wilson had the Chargers up 14-7 entering the final quarter.
A field goal less than one minute into the quarter had the Giants within 14-10. The Chargers moved backwards on their next drive, and the punt allowed the Giants to start at the San Diego 39. Manning hit Kevin Boss for an 8 yard touchdown to put the Giants up 17-14 with 8 minutes left.
With 3 minutes left in the game, Rivers was intercepted, and the Giants had the ball at the San Diego 4 yard line with a chance to lock up the game. Instead, a holding penalty led to a field goal. 2 minutes remained, and the Giants only led 20-14. Rivers had one last shot to redeem himself. Rivers hot Floyd for 12 yards, Antonio Gates for 10 more, and Darren Sproles for another 21. Rivers hit Jackson for the final 18 yards as the Chargers had pulled off a shocker with only 21 seconds left in the game. The Giants, after starting 5-0, have lost 4 straight. Tom Coughlin is searching for answers and wins. 21-20 Chargers
Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles–Last year, with a playoff berth for both teams on the line, the Eagles humiliated the Cowboys 44-6 as the Eagles reached the NFC Title Game and the Cowboys went home. This was about revenge, and 1st place in the division between a pair of 5-2 teams that hate each other. This is why we watch football.
A 2 yard touchdown run by Tashard Choice had the Cowboys up 7-0 on the road. The field goal kickers were all the second quarter could offer, as David Akers nailed a pair of them, the second one coming after a 12 play, 6 minute drive. Neither Tony Romo or Donovan McNabb were putting many points on the board in a game the defenses played well. Romo did hit Patrick Crayton for a 64 yard gain, but the drive stalled at the 4 yar dline, and a Dallas field goal had them up 10-6 at intermission.
In the third quarter McNabb hit McCoy for 45 yards and then hit Brent Celek from 11 yards out as the Eagles led 13-10 entering the final stanza. A McNabb interception set up the tying field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter as the game was tied 13-13.
While Wade Phillips and Andy Reid are both underrated, one problem for the Eagles is their inability to convert short yardage situations. McCoy failed to convert on 2nd and 1 and 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 45. Reid decided to go for it, and McNabb was stuffed. Romo and McNabb are actually both underrated themselves, but on this day it was Romo that made the Eagles pay with a 49 yard touchdown pass to Miles Austin with 8 minutes left. With 4 1/2 minutes left, the Eagles faced 4th and 11 at the Dallas 34. Reid decided to kick the long field goal. Akers nailed the 52 yarder, but the Eagles never got the ball back. It was a curious call, but Dallas stands tall in the NFC East at 6-2 for now. 20-16 Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos–This was simply a good game between two very good football teams. Yet the defending champs showed their mettle late. The first quarter had a Denver field goal, and the second quarter had Kyle Orton intercepted by Carter, who returned it 48 yards for a score. Pittsburgh led 7-3 at the half of this defensive struggle. In the third quarter, a 54 yard fumble return by Ayers had the Broncos up 10-7 in a game where the offenses were nowhere near the end zone.
The Steelers finally got going as Rashaard Mendenhall ran for 24 yards and Ben Roethlisberger threw a 35 yard pass to Santonio Holmes to set up a 3 yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward to give Pittsburgh a 14-10 lead after three quarters. After a Roethlisberger interception killed one drive, Orton was intercepted deep in Denver territory with 9 minutes left. Big Ben hit Wallace for a 25 yard touchdown to put the Steelers up 21-10. After a Denver punt, a 5 minute drive bled the clock. Big Ben hit Ward from 3 yards out with 82 seconds left to make the game seem more lopsided than it was.
Both of these teams are 6-2 as Denver has dropped 2 straight after a 6-0 start. Pittsburgh began 1-2 with the only win being a shaky one in overtime. Yet despite almost being 0-3, they have won 5 straight. Josh McDaniels is off to a strong start, but Mike Tomlin is a champion for a reason. 28-10 Steelers
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