NFL Recap; Giants, Phillies pick up huge road wins
Green Bay at Washington
Can it get any worse for the Packers? Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion, you give up a 13-3 fourth quarter lead, you miss the game-winning field goal off the post and then an interception forces you to lose in overtime.
Washington overcame a 13-3 deficit to beat Green Bay 16-13 in overtime and improve to 3-2 with another huge victory. Mason Crosby missed 2 second half field goals, and LaRon Landry intercepted Rodgers and then penalties got the Redskins down to the Packers 15, where Graham Gano nailed a 33 yard kick.
The game started off with a huge fumble by Donald Lee giving Washington the ball at the Green Bay 21, but after Ryan Torain lost 2 yards a bobbled snap cost the Redskins 22 yards. Washington had to punt.
Brandon Jackson made the most out of his first carry, making a move to pick up the first down, breaking a tackle and galloping down the right sideline. DeAngelo Hall pushed him out of bounds, but not before he picked up 71 yards. Rodgers would hit Lee for a touchdown, and Green Bay led 7-0. The score would stay like that.
Rodgers led Green Bay to the Redskin 35, where Mason Crosby drilled a 52 yard kick. No one could get anything until Donovan McNabb hit Santana Moss for a huge first down, and about 40 yards. Graham Gano was money from 26, and the halftime score was 10-3.
The Packers defense turned on again, giving up no points. However, the Green Bay offense couldn't cash in on the opportunity, scoring on just a field goal. At the end of the third the Pack Attack led 13-3.
But Green Bay still had nothing in their offense, and when Washington got the ball they were quickly forced to a 3rd and 9. However, Anthony Armstrong made a nice fake on Charlie Peprah to the outside, cut over the middle and caught McNabb's pass. The Skins were only down 13-10.
About 4 minutes later, Graham Gano lined up for a 51 yard field goal, set up because of a great catch off of a tipped ball by Armstrong. However, Gano missed the kick wide right, and the score was the same.
But the Packers and Aaron Rodgers still couldn't get anything, and the Redskins got the ball. Donovan McNabb led the Redskins down to the Packers 27, where Graham Gano needed to make a field goal. The kick definitely had the distance, and it barely slipped through the right upright. But Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had 1:07 left.
Rodgers led Green Bay to the 35, and with 7 seconds left, it was time for Mason Crosby. Crosby's kick looked good, then it hooked to the left. It banged off the post and missed, and the game went into overtime.
Green Bay started with the ball, but they were forced to punt. After Washington had to punt, the Packers got the ball back. On second and 10 Rodgers was getting pressured, and he threw the ball around the 40 yard line. LaRon Landry closed out on the play and intercepted the ball, giving the 'Skins the ball at the Pack 39.
After 2 penalties, Washington was at the 15 yard line. Graham Gano nailed a 33 yard field goal, and the Redskins won 16-13.
Tennessee at Dallas
Alterraun Verner and Stephen Tulloch both had huge interceptions as the Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27 to improve to 3-2.
The Titans started with the ball, and they quickly got downfield. Vince Young hit Nate Washington, who was in double-coverage, for a touchdown. Washington made an amazing grab, outstretching his arms to haul the ball in. The 2 teams traded field goals, making it 10-3 Titans after one.
A 29 yard run by Chris Johnson helped set up Kenny Britt's 12 yard touchdown for the Titans, and the Cowboys didn't have an answer until late in the second quarter, where Tony Romo hit Roy Williams for 6. The halftime score was 17-10.
Dallas started with the ball in the second half, and Miles Austin got started. He made a great grab, then made a cut to elude the 2 Titan defenders. Austin scored, and the score was 17-17.
Tennessee answered though, with a 40 yard field goal from Rob Bironas to put Tennessee up 20-17. The Titans led 20-17 after 3 quarters, but after a David Buehler field goal the game was even at 20.
Dallas got the ball back, but Alterraun Verner stepped up. Verner closed out on a bad pass by Romo and intercepted the pass. He returned it to the 3 yard line, and then Chris Johnson punched the ball in. Tennessee was up by a touchdown.
Romo led the Cowboys downfield, and then he hit Jason Witten for a touchdown. With the game tied at 27, someone needed to step up. That was rookie Marc Mariani.
Mariani made a nice cut to the left sideline and he returned the kick 73 yards, and a penalty was added to the play. Chris Johnson scored from a yard out and the Titans had the lead. Dallas got the ball back, but Romo was picked off by Stephen Tulloch to end the game.
Other NFL headlines
Key fumble by Smith, touchdown pass by Kolb helps Eagles survive 49ers 27-24.
Pick-6, fumble recovery for touchdown help Cardinals upset Saints 30-20.
Amazing catch by Michael Spurlock helps set up GW field goal as Bucs beat Bengals 24-21.
3 turnovers in Oakland territory, 9 special teams points help Raiders beat Chargers 35-27.
Defense helps Colts beat Chiefs 19-9.
KO return by Stefan Logan helps Lions destroy Rams 44-6.
Giants at Braves
Brooks Conrad is probably mad about 2 things; being named Brooks, and his 3 errors in Game 3 of the NLDS.
I think the errors might matter a little more.
Conrad's 3 errors handed the Giants a 3-2 win in Atlanta, giving San Francisco the edge in the best of 5 series. The Giants scored 2 ninth inning runs for the win.
No one scored in the first, but after a triple by Mike Fontenot Cody Ross came up. He hit a pop-up into shallow right field, and Brooks Conrad decided to get it. He dropped it, and Fontenot scored.
Although the Giants weren't able to get anything for a long time, Jonathan Sanchez was sharp. He didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, and he struck out 11. In the fifth, Sanchez got the Braves swinging at low pitches, ending the inning.
In the sixth, pitcher Tim Hudson broke up the no-hitter, but Sanchez still stayed sharp. He was able to get ahead of the count and get the Braves swinging. Sanchez went 7.1 innings, and he allowed just 2 hits.
However, in the eighth, Sanchez allowed a leadoff hit to Alex Gonzalez. Sanchez came out when pinch-hitter Eric Hinske came up, and Sergio Romo came out to pitch. Hinske got a pitch he liked, and hit a deep line drive. The ball kept carrying, and it ended up being a homer. Atlanta just needed 3 outs.
With one out, Travis Ishikawa walked, but Andres Torres struck out looking. Freddy Sanchez was up next, and with 2 strikes Sanchez hit a grounder over the middle for a single. Aubrey Huff hit a line drive into left field next, and Ishikawa came around to score. Then Buster Posey came up.
Posey hit an outside fastball to Brooks Conrad, and Conrad got the glove on the ball. But he couldn't get the ball into his glove, and the ball went into right field. Freddy Sanchez came around to score, and San Francisco took a 3-2 lead.
The Giants got 2 quick outs, but Brian McCann got an infield hit. However, Nate McClouth grounded out to Freddy Sanchez, and the Giants had a 2-1 series lead.
Rookie Madison Bumgardner will face Game 1 starter Derek Lowe tonight, and Tim Lincecum will face Tommy Hanson on Wednesday night if the game is needed.
MLB headlines
5 hit shutout by Cole Hamels gives Phillies 2-0 win over Reds, NLCS berth.
Can it get any worse for the Packers? Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion, you give up a 13-3 fourth quarter lead, you miss the game-winning field goal off the post and then an interception forces you to lose in overtime.
Washington overcame a 13-3 deficit to beat Green Bay 16-13 in overtime and improve to 3-2 with another huge victory. Mason Crosby missed 2 second half field goals, and LaRon Landry intercepted Rodgers and then penalties got the Redskins down to the Packers 15, where Graham Gano nailed a 33 yard kick.
The game started off with a huge fumble by Donald Lee giving Washington the ball at the Green Bay 21, but after Ryan Torain lost 2 yards a bobbled snap cost the Redskins 22 yards. Washington had to punt.
Brandon Jackson made the most out of his first carry, making a move to pick up the first down, breaking a tackle and galloping down the right sideline. DeAngelo Hall pushed him out of bounds, but not before he picked up 71 yards. Rodgers would hit Lee for a touchdown, and Green Bay led 7-0. The score would stay like that.
Rodgers led Green Bay to the Redskin 35, where Mason Crosby drilled a 52 yard kick. No one could get anything until Donovan McNabb hit Santana Moss for a huge first down, and about 40 yards. Graham Gano was money from 26, and the halftime score was 10-3.
The Packers defense turned on again, giving up no points. However, the Green Bay offense couldn't cash in on the opportunity, scoring on just a field goal. At the end of the third the Pack Attack led 13-3.
But Green Bay still had nothing in their offense, and when Washington got the ball they were quickly forced to a 3rd and 9. However, Anthony Armstrong made a nice fake on Charlie Peprah to the outside, cut over the middle and caught McNabb's pass. The Skins were only down 13-10.
About 4 minutes later, Graham Gano lined up for a 51 yard field goal, set up because of a great catch off of a tipped ball by Armstrong. However, Gano missed the kick wide right, and the score was the same.
But the Packers and Aaron Rodgers still couldn't get anything, and the Redskins got the ball. Donovan McNabb led the Redskins down to the Packers 27, where Graham Gano needed to make a field goal. The kick definitely had the distance, and it barely slipped through the right upright. But Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had 1:07 left.
Rodgers led Green Bay to the 35, and with 7 seconds left, it was time for Mason Crosby. Crosby's kick looked good, then it hooked to the left. It banged off the post and missed, and the game went into overtime.
Green Bay started with the ball, but they were forced to punt. After Washington had to punt, the Packers got the ball back. On second and 10 Rodgers was getting pressured, and he threw the ball around the 40 yard line. LaRon Landry closed out on the play and intercepted the ball, giving the 'Skins the ball at the Pack 39.
After 2 penalties, Washington was at the 15 yard line. Graham Gano nailed a 33 yard field goal, and the Redskins won 16-13.
Tennessee at Dallas
Alterraun Verner and Stephen Tulloch both had huge interceptions as the Titans beat the Cowboys 34-27 to improve to 3-2.
The Titans started with the ball, and they quickly got downfield. Vince Young hit Nate Washington, who was in double-coverage, for a touchdown. Washington made an amazing grab, outstretching his arms to haul the ball in. The 2 teams traded field goals, making it 10-3 Titans after one.
A 29 yard run by Chris Johnson helped set up Kenny Britt's 12 yard touchdown for the Titans, and the Cowboys didn't have an answer until late in the second quarter, where Tony Romo hit Roy Williams for 6. The halftime score was 17-10.
Dallas started with the ball in the second half, and Miles Austin got started. He made a great grab, then made a cut to elude the 2 Titan defenders. Austin scored, and the score was 17-17.
Tennessee answered though, with a 40 yard field goal from Rob Bironas to put Tennessee up 20-17. The Titans led 20-17 after 3 quarters, but after a David Buehler field goal the game was even at 20.
Dallas got the ball back, but Alterraun Verner stepped up. Verner closed out on a bad pass by Romo and intercepted the pass. He returned it to the 3 yard line, and then Chris Johnson punched the ball in. Tennessee was up by a touchdown.
Romo led the Cowboys downfield, and then he hit Jason Witten for a touchdown. With the game tied at 27, someone needed to step up. That was rookie Marc Mariani.
Mariani made a nice cut to the left sideline and he returned the kick 73 yards, and a penalty was added to the play. Chris Johnson scored from a yard out and the Titans had the lead. Dallas got the ball back, but Romo was picked off by Stephen Tulloch to end the game.
Other NFL headlines
Key fumble by Smith, touchdown pass by Kolb helps Eagles survive 49ers 27-24.
Pick-6, fumble recovery for touchdown help Cardinals upset Saints 30-20.
Amazing catch by Michael Spurlock helps set up GW field goal as Bucs beat Bengals 24-21.
3 turnovers in Oakland territory, 9 special teams points help Raiders beat Chargers 35-27.
Defense helps Colts beat Chiefs 19-9.
KO return by Stefan Logan helps Lions destroy Rams 44-6.
Giants at Braves
Brooks Conrad is probably mad about 2 things; being named Brooks, and his 3 errors in Game 3 of the NLDS.
I think the errors might matter a little more.
Conrad's 3 errors handed the Giants a 3-2 win in Atlanta, giving San Francisco the edge in the best of 5 series. The Giants scored 2 ninth inning runs for the win.
No one scored in the first, but after a triple by Mike Fontenot Cody Ross came up. He hit a pop-up into shallow right field, and Brooks Conrad decided to get it. He dropped it, and Fontenot scored.
Although the Giants weren't able to get anything for a long time, Jonathan Sanchez was sharp. He didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning, and he struck out 11. In the fifth, Sanchez got the Braves swinging at low pitches, ending the inning.
In the sixth, pitcher Tim Hudson broke up the no-hitter, but Sanchez still stayed sharp. He was able to get ahead of the count and get the Braves swinging. Sanchez went 7.1 innings, and he allowed just 2 hits.
However, in the eighth, Sanchez allowed a leadoff hit to Alex Gonzalez. Sanchez came out when pinch-hitter Eric Hinske came up, and Sergio Romo came out to pitch. Hinske got a pitch he liked, and hit a deep line drive. The ball kept carrying, and it ended up being a homer. Atlanta just needed 3 outs.
With one out, Travis Ishikawa walked, but Andres Torres struck out looking. Freddy Sanchez was up next, and with 2 strikes Sanchez hit a grounder over the middle for a single. Aubrey Huff hit a line drive into left field next, and Ishikawa came around to score. Then Buster Posey came up.
Posey hit an outside fastball to Brooks Conrad, and Conrad got the glove on the ball. But he couldn't get the ball into his glove, and the ball went into right field. Freddy Sanchez came around to score, and San Francisco took a 3-2 lead.
The Giants got 2 quick outs, but Brian McCann got an infield hit. However, Nate McClouth grounded out to Freddy Sanchez, and the Giants had a 2-1 series lead.
Rookie Madison Bumgardner will face Game 1 starter Derek Lowe tonight, and Tim Lincecum will face Tommy Hanson on Wednesday night if the game is needed.
MLB headlines
5 hit shutout by Cole Hamels gives Phillies 2-0 win over Reds, NLCS berth.
Comments
Randy Moss and Brett Favre against the Jets will be a great match-up, but I say the Jets eek one out with a 3 TD performance by Sanchez. New York 28, Minnesota 24.