Sports Blog

The third time is the charm.

Just ask New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, who missed two crucial field goals, including the 36-yarder that would have won the game for the Giants at the end of regulation. Tynes finally sealed the win for his team in overtime, splitting the uprights on a 47-yard field goal after a Corey Webster interception.

The Giants and Green Bay Packers game was everything you could ask for in a hard fought battle that saw two teams slugging it out at Lambeau with temperatures as cold as minus-27 with the wind-chill.

And then there was the New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers in the AFC title game. I was really pulling for the Chargers, but after losing LaDainian Tomlinson early in the first quarter, I knew it’d be an even harder uphill battle. But they hung in there until the fourth quarter. If they had capitalized on a couple touchdowns instead of settling for field goals in the red zone, we may be talking about a Chargers upset. But in the end, everyone has 20/20 hindsight and the game ended like everyone assumed it would, with a Patriots win.

So now on to Arizona, where the Patriots are a heavy favorite over the Giants. Lets at least hope for a close game and I’m personally hoping for a Giants upset, or at the very least, a very competitive Super Bowl. If the Patriots are going to end the year with a perfect record, lets at least make them work for it.

Now, on to Glendale!

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Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys were one of the many teams upset this weekend in the second round of the NFL Playoffs. Since Romo couldn’t lead his team to the NFC Championship Game, he can now spend some more PDA filled evenings with his new sweetheart, Jessica Simpson. I wonder if her parents will tag along again.

Here are the players who helped out their team this weekend and some who didn’t:

New York Giants 24, Dallas Cowboys 17

• Eli Manning didn’t turn the ball over once and connected to Amani Toomer for two touchdown passes.

San Diego Chargers 28, Indianapolis Colts 24

• Philip Rivers tossed for three touchdowns despite a non-existent LaDainian Tomlinson, who left with a leg injury.
• Peyton Manning was his usual self with over 400-yards passing and four touchdowns, but it was his two interceptions in Charger territory that proved to be crucial.

New England Patriots 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 20

• Tom Brady only threw two incomplete passes, connecting on 26 passes and throwing three touchdowns.

Green Bay Packers 42, Seattle Seahawks 20

• Brett Favre and Ryan Grant each had three touchdowns, including 201 yards rushing for Grant.
• Seattle’s running game was pretty much non-existent, as Shaun Alexander led the Seahawks with 20-yards.

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It was a slow week because of the holidays, but here is what happened in news and sports blogs around the Net:

• Patrick Ewing bad at judging talent, 100% Injury Report gives their take on the New York Knicks - 100% Injury Rate
• Apparently, St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger was on The Hills. Well, on paper at least - Awful Announcing
• Nick Saban gets jiggy wit it at a holiday party - Every Day Should Be Saturday
• The worst New York Yankees related gifts - Yankees Chick
• Champ Bailey puts Philip Rivers in his place for trash talking - Larry Brown Sports
• What has Derrick Coleman been up to? - Can’t Stop the Bleeding
• Arkansas’ Darren McFadden gets a new Cadillac Escalade - Sports by Brooks

YouTube - Watch 
And in Smarter Sports we talked about:

• The Rock sings the 12 Days of Christmas
• Roger Clemens issues video, denies using steroids and HGH

Tell us what you’d say!

What would you say? Write us your caption and post them in our comments!

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Check out and see who made an impact this week in the NFL for your fantasy football teams:

• Jaguars running back Fred Taylor had 147 yards rushing and a touchdown.
• Marques Colston had 8 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown.
• Jamal Lewis ran all over the Bills for 163 yards to help the Browns to the victory.
• The Philadelphia Eagles Defense was responsible for the win over the Cowboys, holding them to 6 points and sacking Tony Romo four times and nabbing three interceptions.
• The Patriots Defense was just as good, contributing 5 sacks, a blocked punt and interception for a touchdown and a fumble recovery.
• Stephen Jackson had 143 yards rushing, including a 43-yard touchdown run for the Rams.
• Despite not recording a touchdown, Brian Westbrook still had a strong game with 81 yards rushing and 63 yards receiving.
• Kurt Warner tossed 3 touchdowns in a losing effort for the Cardinals.
• Clinton Portis rushed for a touchdown and 126 yards.
• Portis’ counterpart Brandon Jacobs had 130 yards in a losing effort for the Giants.
• The San Diego Chargers had a field day running on the Detroit Lions. LaDainian Tomlinson had 116 yards and 2 touchdowns while Darren Sproles had 122 yards and 2 touchdowns of his own.
• The Miami Dolphins finally won a game behind the arm of Cleo Lemon, who threw for 315 yards and a touchdown.
• Aaron Stecker ran for 95 yards and had 2 touchdowns for the Saints, taking place of Reggie Bush.
• David Garrad threw for 3 touchdowns as did Ben Roethlisberger, but it was Garrad who came away with the win over the Steelers.
• Frank Gore broke loose for 138 yards.

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Tom Brady is at is again, but Adrian Peterson was shutdown and held to only three rushing yards. Here are the players that made an impact this weekend.

• Tony Romo passed for 302 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Jason Witten with under a minute in the game.
• Jason Witten hauled in 15 passes for 138 yards, including the touchdown.
• Marion Barber finished the day with three touchdowns for the ‘Boys.
• Randy Moss caught 7 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns.
• Tom Brady did it again with four touchdown passes and 399 yards.
• The Colts Defense had a great day with 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 sacks, a safety and a blocked punt.
• Peyton Manning matched Brady with four touchdowns of his own and 246 yards.
• Jay Cutler had a great day with 4 scores and 244 yards.
• Ryan Grant ran for 156 yards and a touchdown in a win for the Packers.
• Wide receiver Lee Evans had 2 touchdowns for the Bills in a win over the Dolphins.
• LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime over the Titans.
• The Vikings Defense racked up 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
• Eagles running back Brian Westbrook had 116 yards rushing, 38 yards rushing and touchdown.

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Here are those who made a difference this weekend. For once, there won’t be Patriots player on this list, only because they play tonight.

• Tony Romo helped put the Cowboys above the rest in the NFC by defeating the Packers with 309 yards and 4 touchdowns.
• Terrell Owens chipped in 7 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown.
• Adrian Peterson didn’t show any signs of rust after missing a few games, rushing for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Andre Johnson of the Texans caught 9 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
• Stephen Jackson had a good overall game with 96 yards on the ground with a touchdown and 71 yards receiving.
• Looks like that hamstring didn’t bother Braylon Edwards at all, catching 7 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
• LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Kevin Curtis caught 6 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles in a losing effort.
• Despite having no touchdown grabs, Joey Galloway hauled in 7 passes for 159 yards.
• Hines Ward had 11 catches for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• Falcons receiver Roddy White had 10 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.
• The San Diego Chargers Defense had 3 interceptions and 8 sacks, including 3 from Shawne Merriman.
• Eagles running back Brian Westbrook did it all against the Seahawks, running for 93 yards and a touchdown, returning a punt for 64 yards and 46 yards receiving.
• Peyton Manning passed for 4 touchdowns and connected with Reggie Wayne for 2 of those who also finished with 158 yards receiving.
• Tony Gonzalez finished with 10 catches and 140 yards for the Chiefs.

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Here are the most noteworthy players from around the league who posted up some good numbers this past weekend. If you had one of these guys on your team, chances are you did alright this weekend.

• Tom Brady continued on with his touchdown tear this weekend by throwing 5 touchdowns, going 31 for 46, 388 yards. Brady’s touchdown total after yesterday, is now up to 21, putting him on pace to beat Peyton Manning’s single season record.
• Adrian Peterson ran wild on the Chicago Bears, tallying 224 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. He finished with runs of 67, 73 and 35 yards.
• LaDanian Tomlinson looked like he was back in his MVP form by rushing for 198 yards and 4 touchdowns.
• Baltimore Ravens Defense: 5 interceptions, 4 sacks and a fumble recovery.
• Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson passed for 18 for 25 for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown.
• Wes Welker had a 11 catches for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. On top of that he had 55 kick return yards and 37 punt return yards.

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“Jon Runyan, on Philly. He’ll curse, spit, scratch, bite, anything. He’s a nasty dude.”

- Shawn Merriman, when asked by Carmelo Anthony who was the toughest offensive lineman out there. Unless these, two meet in the Super Bowl, there won’t be a matchup this year.

Source: ESPN the Magazine, Oct. 2007

Photo Source: Shawn Merriman, Jon Runyan