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NFL Sunday Recap - Colts and Patriots in a Classic
The debate will rage forever. Okay, not forever, that’s too long even for Bill Belichick, but it will rage until at least the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts in this year’s playoffs.
Of course, the Cincinnati Bengals might have something to say about New England and Indy meeting in the AFC title game, but before getting into that, let’s just say that Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on 4th and 2 on his side of the 50 yard line, with less than two minutes to go, was one of the gutsiest things I had ever seen in my life.
Gutsy and, it turns out, stupid. Stupid only because Kevin Faulk couldn’t get his feet planted on the other side of the mythical first down yellow line emblazoned across my television screen. If Faulk had landed his feet, then forget it. It would have been another brilliant Bill Belichick call.
But Faulk didn’t, Peyton Manning threw a touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne with roughly 13 seconds on the clock and the BetUS sportsbook which was perfect.
Tom Brady for New England threw for 366 yards. Peyton Manning for the Colts threw for 327 yards. Randy Moss caught Brady passes for 179 yards. Wayne for the Colts caught Manning passes for 126 yards.
It all came down to a gutsy call by one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. It didn’t pan out and the Colts won in one of the best football games every played. Belichick’s body guard was so distraught it appears he took down a cameraman on the way off the field.
One of the best football games played this season. Football is a fickle sport, one day you’re up and one day you’re down and for all of the greatness displayed by both the Colts and the Patriots on Sunday night, one team had them beat when it comes to outright brilliant football.
That would be the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bengals Prove Championship Readiness
Cincinnati went into Three Rivers Stadium and dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers. The stats won’t show it, but anybody who watched the game definitely saw it. What did Cincinnati do that was so alarmingly brilliant?
They played defense. The Bengals shut down defense held Big Ben Roethlisberger to 20 out of 40 for 176 yards and an interception. They held the trash talking Hines Ward to 4 catches for 24 yards. They held running back Rashard Mendenhall to 36 rushing yards.
The Bengals D kicked the Steelers in their mouth and the Bengals offense did enough, just enough, to get kicker Shayne Graham into position for four field goals, and Cincinnati beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh.
The Bengals have swept both the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the two teams that faced each other in the AFC Championship game last season, and have looked great doing it. Save for a flukey loss to Denver in Week 1 and a trap game loss to the Houston Texans in Week 6, the Bengals have been as impressive as any team in the NFL.
Sure, they aren’t flashy but that’s why they’re 6 and 3 ATS. NFL betting fans don’t expect them to be flashy, like the Saints and Colts, and so they get small wagering spreads to combat.
Cincy has turned into, dare I write it, a team without egos. Chad Ochocinco had 2 catches in Sunday’s victory and…it didn’t matter. He was just as pumped about the victory as anybody on the team.
The Bengals rank as one of the top four teams in the NFL, maybe the top team, because they are winning with defense. That’s something that the Colts, Patriots, Saints and Cowboys can’t say.
Cowboys Lose but Silver Lining Not Far Away
Yes, the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field 17 to 7, but as is the case with the ‘Boys this season, they looked good doing it.
The silver lining in the loss was that Roy Williams and Tony Romo appear to be on the same page, finally, and Dallas is going to be extra, extra tough in the rest of their games this season because of it.
Romo had another decent game, throwing for 251 yards a touchdown and only one interception. Most of his passes went to Williams who caught 5 balls for 105 yards and the lone TD.
With Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin and now Roy Williams clicking in Dallas’s passing attack, the ‘Boys no doubt should find a way to now incorporate tight end Jason Witten more, who has had a less than usually awesome Witten season so far, along with Marion Barber and Tashard Choice, in the offense. That’s going to make Dallas very difficult to beat in the coming weeks if their defense comes to play.
For the Packers the victory kept them in the NFC Wildcard race. Their silver lining is the fact that they held the usually high scoring Cowboys to less than 20 points. That, and the fact that the Cowboys sacked QB Aaron Rodgers only three times, might mean that the Packers have turned the corner.
We’ll find out soon enough. Green Bay faces Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Arizona in the coming weeks. All three of those teams have excellent offenses and decent defenses.
New Orleans Has Serious Issues
For the third straight week, the New Orleans Saints failed to cover against the spread. As 14 point favorites, the Saints were supposed to march into St. Louis and take down one of the worst teams in the NFL, but New Orleans played awful on both offense and defense and not only failed to cover ATS but almost lost straight-up to the terrible Rams.
On offense, quarterback Drew Brees threw for less than 225 yards and tossed 2 interceptions. He did throw 2 touchdowns, but the 2 interceptions means that Brees has thrown 7 picks in the last 4 games. Reggie Bush was a highlight scoring two touchdowns while displaying awesome athleticism all day, but the Brees picks must have Coach Sean Payton worried.
On defense, the Saints allowed running back Steven Jackson to rush for 131 yards and a touchdown. They allowed QB Marc Bulger to throw for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Saints D looked absolutely awful all day.
But, as opposed to Brees, at least the Saints’ D had an excuse. Already missing starting cornerback Jabari Greer and free safety Darren Sharper, their other starting cornerback, Tracey Porter when down with a knee injury during the game.
The Saints play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this coming Sunday. They are 11 ½ point favorites against the spread and no doubt will be bet by many gamblers, but unless the injury bug leaves their defense and Brees fixes his sudden penchant for errant throws, the Saints won’t cover that spread and are in danger of losing straight-up to the gritty Bucs.
Beware wagering the Saints right now.
Run Down of Other Games
Carolina beat Atlanta 28 to 19 as 1 point favorites ATS.
Minnesota held sway against the Detroit Lions as 17 point favorites 27 to 10.
Miami beat Tampa Bay 25 to 23 in a non-cover game as 10 point faves.
Jacksonville upset the New York Jets 24 to 22 as 6 ½ point underdogs.
Washington upset Denver as 3 ½ point underdogs 27 to 17.
Kansas City beat Oakland 16 to 10 as 1 point underdogs.
Arizona thumped Seattle as 9 point favorites 31 to 20.
San Diego took it to the Eagles 31 to 23 as 1 point favorites.
All in all it was another terrific Sunday in the NFL!
