NFL - Week Fifteen Review

The playoff picture around the NFL is taking form with two weeks left in the regular season as six of the twelve eligible teams are already in following this weekend's action.
The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North division with a 21-13 road win at Chicago against the slumping Bears, who have lost five of their last six games and fallen out of the playoff picture.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (pictured left) hooked up with WR James Jones for three touchdowns in the win.
The Baltimore Ravens lost their game to Denver, 34-17 but still clinched  a playoff spot when the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Dallas Cowboys, 27-24 in overtime later in the day.
Denver rolled to their ninth consecutive win at Baltimore as running back Knowshon Moreno rushed for 118 yards and scored a touchdown while QB Peyton Manning threw a TD pass. Broncos' DB Chris Harris raced 98 yards with an interception for a touchdown to help the cause.
Meanwhile, the host Dallas Cowboys beat Pittsburgh on a 21-yard field goal by Dan Bailey following an interception of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.
The Cowboys (8-6) got a pair of TD passes from QB Tony Romo and scoring run from RB DeMarco Murray and are now in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC East with Washington and the New York Giants.
The Redskins, playing without starting QB Robert Griffin III, won their fifth straight game, 38-21 at Cleveland.
Reserve QB Kirk Cousins threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns to WR Leonard Hankerson while running back Alfred Morris ran for two scores. The loss eliminated the Browns (5-9) from playoff contention.
The New York Giants were crushed 34-0 in Atlanta as the Falcons intercepted Giants QB Eli Manning twice and limited New York to just 256 total yards in offense.
Falcons QB Matt Ryan passed for three touchdowns, including two to Julio Jones as they improved to 12-2 for the season while taking another step closer to home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson topped 200 yards rushing in win.

The surprising Minnesota Vikings rode the legs of Adrian Peterson, the Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week, to the tune of 212 yards rushing (including an 82-yard TD run) in a 36-22 road win against the St. Louis Rams, to improve to 8-6 and bolt into the sixth spot of the NFC playoff picture.
The Houston Texans (12-2) clinched the AFC South division for the second straight season, beating the visiting Indianapolis Colts, 29-17 as kicker Shayne Graham nailed five field goals to with a special teams score on a blocked punt and a TD pass from QB Matt Schaub to WR Andre Johnson.
The Colts are 9-5 as they saw their three-game winning streak snapped, but they still control their own playoff destiny as they are currently in the five spot in the AFC playoff picture.
The surging Seattle Seahwks won again as they routed the Buffalo Bills, 50-17 to improve to 9-5 and keep the pressure on the NFC West division leading San Francisco 49ers heading into a huge game between the two teams next week.
After putting up 58 points a week ago, the Seahawks became the first team since 1950 to score 50 points in successive games as QB Russell Wilson rushed for three touchdowns while RB Marshawn Lynch (113 yards rushing) scored a TD as well.
The Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) remained in the sixth spot in the AFC playoff picture with a 34-13 win last Thursday night at Philadelphia.
Trailing 13-10 at the half, the Bengals outscored the Eagles 24-0 as QB Andy Dalton ran and threw for a score while RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis (106 yards rushing) also scored a touchdown in the win.

49ers' QB Colin Kaepernick had four TD passes in win over Patriots.

The much anticipated Sunday Night Football game was all it was supposed to be and more as the San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) won on the road against the New England Patriots, 41-34 behind four touchdown passes by QB Colin Kaepernick, including the game winner to WR Michael Crabtree (who had two TD catches)  late in the fourth quarter to put the 'Niners ahead for good at 38-31 after the Patriots rallied from a 28-point deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
New England saw it's seven game winning streak snapped despite QB Tom Brady passing for 443 yards and a touchdown while RB Danny Woodhead ran for two more scores in the frantic second half comeback.
The Patriots (10-4) had already clinched a playoff spot in the AFC, but the loss puts them behind Houston and Denver for the first round "bye" in the post-season.

Other games around the league included the Carolina Panthers romping past the host San Diego Chargers, 31-7 behind a pair of rushing touchdowns by former Charger RB Mike Tolbert  . . .   The Miami Dolphins honored the 1972 undefeated team's 40th Anniversary and also remained mathematically alive in the AFC playoff race with a 24-3 win against Jacksonville as QB Ryan Tannehill threw two TD passes . . . The New Orleans Saints pasted visiting Tampa Bay, 41-0 to eliminate the Buccaneers (6-8 and losers of four in a row) from the NFC playoff picture as QB Drew Brees passed for 307 yards and four touchdowns in the game . . .  The Arizona Cardinals stopped a nine-game losing streak with a 38-10 home rout of the Detroit Lions (4-10) behind three TD runs by RB Beanie Wells . . .   The Oakland Raiders, the worst defensive team in points allowed in the NFL, shut out the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, 15-0 behind five field goals (including two from beyond 50 yards) by kicker Sebastian Janikowski . . .  The Monday Night Football game had the Tennessee Titans getting a home win, 14-10 against the New York Jets as running back Chris Johnson (122 yards) scored on a 94-yard run and QB Jake Locker also scored a rushing touchdown. The Jets were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss as QB Mark Sanchez was intercepted four times and also lost a fumble in the closing seconds of the game with the ball on the Titans' 25-yard line.

NFL - Sideline Fun

Tragic

The school children are led out of the school where 27 people died, including at least 20 small children, as a result of a mass school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

NFL - Week Fifteen Preview

With just three weeks left in the 2012 NFL season, it's put up or shut up time for several teams on the "playoff bubble" around the league.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys face each other in a huge showdown in Big D this Sunday afternoon.
Both squads are 7-6 and in dire need of a win to keep playoff hopes alive, although the Cowboys are more backed into a corner than Pittsburgh is at this point.
The Chicago Bears (8-5) host the Green Bay Packers (9-4) in a NFC North division battle that will give the division crown to the Packers if they beat the Bears in Soldier Field.
Green Bay has been surging, having won seven of eight games while the Bears have gone in the opposite direction, losing four of their last five games to drop out of first place in the division race.
The Sunday Night Football Game could very well be a Super Bowl 47 preview between the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
San Francisco leads the NFC West at 9-3-1 and has a hungry Seattle team hot on their heels at 8-5 while Patriots have already clinched the AFC East division and are looking to secure possible home field advantage through the playoffs with their 10-3 record, having won seven in a row coming into this game.
There are many matchups that will make or break several teams this week, so here's a capsule style look at the action around the NFL with the Heftyinfo predictions following up.


Cincinnati (7-6) at Philadelphia (4-9) - The Eagles finally broke through with a win last week and face a Bengals team that MUST WIN in tonight's final Thursday Night Football Game of 2012 to keep alive their playoff hopes.

Green Bay (9-4) at Chicago (8-5) - Green Bay dominated the Bears  in Lambeau Field in Week Two and may do the same this Sunday in the Windy City.

New York Giants (8-5) at Atlanta (11-2) - Suddenly the Falcons don't seem so invincible any more and the Giants are getting it rolling late in the season once again as they did last year on their way to a Super Bowl title.

Washington (7-6) at Cleveland (5-8) - RG3 says he will be ready to lead the 'Skins in this one. Both teams have been red hot, so something has to give on the shores of Lake Erie this Sunday.

Minnesota (7-6) at St. Louis (6-6-1) - The loser of this game will be OUT of the NFC Playoffs picture.

Jacksonville (2-11) at Miami (5-8) - The battle of Florida. Is it really worth fighting for?

Tampa Bay (6-7) at New Orleans (5-8) - Two "also rans" just playing out the string.

Denver (10-3) at Baltimore (9-4) -  Broncos' QB Peyton Manning has a history of dissecting the Ravens defense. This is a HUGE game with a possible first round playoff bye week at stake... take Peyton and the Broncos.

Indianapolis (9-4) at Houston (11-2) - The Texans were given a big piece of humble pie last week at New England while the Colts have won three straight and seven of eight. Can they keep it going in Houston this Sunday?

Seattle (8-5) at Buffalo (5-8) - Beware of the "trap" game Seattle. The Bills could spring the surprise here against a hot Seahawks team.

Detroit (4-9) at Arizona (4-9) - Can the Lions get a win on the road against a team that lost 58-0 last week?

Carolina (4-9) at San Diego (5-8) - Can the Chargers make their annual December run and finish at .500 again this year?

Pittsburgh (7-6) at Dallas (7-6) - The Steelers and the Cowboys. With playoff implications riding on the game. It doesn't get any better than that. Actually it does because neither of these two is going very far even IF they make the playoffs.

Kansas City (2-11) at Oakland (3-10) - Why bother?

San Francisco (9-3-1) at New England (10-3) - Two of the BEST teams in the NFL go at it in "prime time" this Sunday night. (Take the Patriots)

New York Jets (6-7) at Tennessee (4-9) - The final Monday Night Football Game this season and the Jets are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot in the AFC so it stands to reason they will win this game, right? Not necessarily.

The Heftyinfo picks for Week 15  . . .    (Home teams are listed in BOLD)

Philadelphia over Cincinnati
Green Bay over Chicago 
Atlanta over New York Giants
Washington over Cleveland
St. Louis over Minnesota
Miami over Jacksonville
New Orleans over Tampa Bay
Denver over Baltimore
Houston over Indianapolis
Seattle over Buffalo
Detroit over Arizona
San Diego over Carolina
Pittsburgh over Dallas
Oakland over Kansas City
New England over San Francisco
Tennessee over New York Jets

Last Week's Record:  9-7

SEASON RECORD: 126-81-1

Here We Go Again

The Republicans just do not know when to quit, do they?
Now along comes Michigan governor (Republican of course) Rick Snyder to ram through, along with the GOP dominated Michigan state legislature, the "right to work" (For less money of course) law in that state.
When are these idiots going to learn that you don't mess with the hard working people of this country, especially in Michigan.
I also have to ask the people of Michigan (just like Wisconsin and Ohio when the middle class people came under attack from the GOP there) ... "Why in the hell are you people voting for Republicans?"

Two simple illustrations below sum it all up folks... TAKE A GOOD LOOK!

OK MICHIGAN VOTERS, YOU ARE CHARLIE BROWN AND THE GOP IS LUCY

 The picture below is a direct message for Rick Snyder and all his cohorts in the Republican party in the state of Michigan.

NFL - Week Fourteen Review

There were some last second thrillers along with surprises around the NFL this past weekend.

Chargers' QB Philip Rivers and WR Danario Alexander celebrate TD.

Perhaps the biggest surprise came in Pittsburgh, where the San Diego Chargers shocked the Steelers, 34-24 behind opportunistic defense and three touchdown passes from quarterback Philip Rivers.
The Steelers had quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back for the first time in four weeks, but it wasn't enough as the Chargers bolted out to a 27-3 lead early in the second half thanks to a defensive score on a fumble recovery in the end zone by DB Quentin Jammer and cruised from there. The loss dropped Pittsburgh to 7-6 in the AFC North.
The Dallas Cowboys got a 40-yard field goal from kicker Dan Bailey at the buzzer to edge host Cincinnati, 20-19 to improve to 7-6 and keep pace with the resurgent Washington Redskins in the NFC "wild card" race.
The Redskins stormed back in  the final seconds to sneak past the visiting Baltimore Ravens, 31-28 in overtime.
Reserve QB Kirk Cousins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon and then ran in for the two-point conversion to force the OT session. Kicker Kai Forbath nailed a 34-yard field goal to win it.
The Ravens (9-4) had a 28-20 lead, but starting QB Robert Griffin III led the 'Skins on a drive down field in the closing minutes before being forced to the bench with a knee injury. That's where Cousins stepped in and finished the drive to propel Washington to a fourth straight win and 7-6 record in the NFC East.
The New York Giants kept their hold on first place at 8-5 in the NFC East with a 52-27 thumping of the visiting New Orleans Saints, who dropped their third straight game.
Giants QB Eli Manning had four TD passes and David Wilson rushed for two scores to go with 100 yards on the ground and also took a kickoff back 97 yards for a third touchdown.
The Minnesota Vikings beat the visiting Chicago Bears, 21-14 behind a big game from running back Adrian Peterson, who ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns to go with a defensive score by the Vikings (7-6) that made the difference. The Bears lost for the fourth time in five games and slipped to 8-5 in the NFC North, one game behind the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers came from behind to top the visiting Detroit Lions, 27-20 in the Sunday Night Football game.
Detroit went ahead 14-0 in the second quarter when QB Matthew Stafford connected with tight end Tony Scheffler for a touchdown pass. But then Green Bay got a huge break when defensive lineman Mike Daniels rumbled 43 yards with a fumble recovery for a touchdown to make it 14-10 in favor of Detroit.
The Packers won for then eighth time in nine games and now are alone in first place (9-4) in the NFC North with big game at Chicago next Sunday.
The "cardiac kids" known as the Indianapolis Colts, did it again  in come from behind fashion with a 27-23 home win over the Tennessee Titans as kicker Adam Vinatieri made two field goals in the final minute of play to provide the outcome for the Colts, who improved to 9-4 in the AFC South and secured a two-game edge over both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the AFC "wild card " race. Indy trailed 20-7 at halftime before mounting their sixth comeback win this season.
The St. Louis Rams rallied late with a 13-yard touchdown pass from QB Sam Bradford to WR Brandon Gibson with just 48 seconds remaining to edge the host Buffalo Bills, 15-12 and improve to 6-6-1 in the NFC West.

The Seattle Seahawks cruised 58-0 over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Seattle Seahawks (8-5) DESTROYED the visiting Arizona Cardinals, losers of nine consecutive games, 58-0 in the Great Northwest.
Running back Marshawn Lynch ran for 111 yards and scored three touchdowns while the tenacious Seattle defense forced EIGHT turnovers in the easy win.
The New York Jets (6-7) kept very slim playoff hopes alive with a 17-10 yawner win over the host Jacksonville Jaguars behind rushing touchdowns from Shonn Greene and Bilal Powell.
Philadelphia snapped an eight game losing streak and dealt the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff chances a serious blow with a 23-21 win as QB Nick Foles hit WR Jeremy Maclin on a one-yard scoring pass on the game's final play. The Bucs (6-7) blew a 21-10 fourth quarter lead with their third consecutive loss.
The San Francisco 49ers beat the visiting Miami Dolphins, 27-13 as the defense limited the Dolphins to just 227 yards of offense and the offense scored three rushing touchdowns, including a 50-yard jaunt by QB Colin Kaepernick to put the game out of reach.
The Carolina Panthers surprised the visiting Atlanta Falcons, 30-20 as QB Cam Newton  threw for two scores and also had a 72-yard touchdown run to pace the win. The Falcons (11-2) fell behind 23-0 before mounting a rally with two scoring passes from QB Matt Ryan. But Newton's second TD pass, a 53-yard hook up with running back DeAngelo Williams, put the game out of reach for good with 4:11 remaining,
The host Cleveland Browns (5-8) blew out hapless Kansas City, 30-7 behind a 93-yard punt return for touchdown by Travis Benjamin and two rushing touchdowns by RB Trent Richardson. Jamaal Charles (165 yards rushing) scored the Chiefs' only touchdown on an 80-yard sprint on the first play from scrimmage.

The Denver Broncos outlasted the host Oakland Raiders last Thursday night, 26-13 to improve to 10-3 with their eighth straight win. Quarterback Peyton Manning had a TD pass to go with 310 yards and RB Knowshon Moreno ran for 119 yards and a touchdown. Broncos' kicker Matt Prater made four field goals as well.
The New England Patriots (10-3) served notice to the visiting Houston Texans (11-2) that they are the team to beat in the AFC with a 42-14 thumping in the Monday Night Football game.
Patriots QB Tom Brady (pictured right), the Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week, threw for 296 yards and had four touchdown passes, including two to tight end Aaron Hernandez in the first half as the Pats built a 21-0 advantage.

Classic Sports Movie

This may be the only hockey we fans can get to see this year with the NHL lockout going on.
The Hanson brothers (pictured below) from the 1977 movie "Slap Shot" starring the late Paul Newman.

 

Hope the short clip from the movie is enjoyable, even with some rough language.